I've done a bit more on the loco and tender, and its time to review the progress so far.

Firstly, these plastic kits go together quite quickly, with a little pre planning and setting out of parts of course.

The comment I made about flash I will now retract a little, given the amount on the tender - especially the coal rails, which had to be cleared of a dense quantity of the stuff.

However, the tender is now completed.

Both the loco body and the tender are supplied with substantial lead weights, which will greatly help adhesion to the track eventually.

The trickiest part was by far the handrails so far. Let's see if I am still saying that when the chassis is completed!

Building this in 4mm has really made me realise how much I like the look of these engines. The 2mm version I scratchbuilt just doesn't have the same presence. I would dearly ove to find one of the 2F goods kits, although a craftsman 1F might provide the second engine eventually. The 2mm engine I built last year:

I have just sent off to Smiths for some couplings for the stock I am working on at present.

I have a photo of No70 at Bedford in 1930 with screw couplings, although it appears to be in crimson lake.

I rather fancy painting this one in black and then weathering it some. As No70 was scrapped in 1932, perhaps I can pretend it was sent out to farm somewhere instead, and received an LMS repaint at some time?

The goods stock of course will be fitted with 3 link, the carriage ends screws. I am intending to fit hook and coupling links to one end of each wagon, with a hook only at the other end.

Hopefully the carriages I bought on ebay will arrive early this week. I am curious to see if they will be as easy in the construction, relatively speaking of course - although it's nice to see what I'm doing for a change!

Regards,

Chris